United Brethren 
in Christ 
Foreign Missionary 


society 


Missionary 
Manual 








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PRINCETON - NEW JERSEY 
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PRESENTED BY 


Rufus H, LeFevre 
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1409 U, B. Building 
DAYTON, OHIO. 
1924 





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The 
MISSIONARY 
MANUAL 


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FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY 
United Brethren in Christ 
1409 U. B. Building 
DAYTON, OHIO 
1924 












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THE MISSIONARY MANUAL 
Foreword 
Introduction 
The Reason for the Missionary Movement 
The Purpose of the Manual 


Chapter I—Organization 
Name 
Functions 
Organization and Duties 
A Foreign Mission Conference 
Superintendency 
Reports 
The Mission Council 
Delegates to General Conference 
Powers and Duties of a Foreign Mission Conference 


Chapter II—The Missionary 
The Call 
Qualifications 
Application Forms 
Ordained Missionaries 
Medical Missionaries 
Educational Missionaries 
Wives of Missionaries 
Interview with Board Officers 
Designation to a Field 
Outfit 
Return of Outfit 
Consecration Service 
Passports 
Making the Journey 
The Mastery of the Spoken Language 
Remuneration for Outside Work 
Resignation of Missionaries 
Traveling Expenses for Children 
Salary 


Allowances 

The Term of Service 

Furlough Travel 

Furlough Allowances 

Work at Home 

Vacation on the Field 

Medical Expenses 

Safe-guarding the Native Church 
Personal Correspondence 


Chapter I1I—The Mission Council 
The Necessity of Unfailing Good Will 
Organization 
Supervision 
Functions 
Assignment of Work 
Reports 
Estimates 
Special Appeals 
Transfer of Funds on the Field 
Mission Treasurer 
Property 
Control of Property 


FOREWORD 


This Manual of regulative principles has been prepared 
in response to the needs of the Foreign Mission Board 
and the missionaries on our five foreign fields after many 
years of service with nothing more explicit than the pro- 
visions in the general church discipline. 


The principles set forth in this Manual bearing on the 
Board’s relation to the missionaries and to the fields, and 
on different practical points in the conduct of missionary 
work have been adopted in harmony with the general 
church discipline, the practices of the Board, and the es- 
tablished methods already practiced on the fields. 


Manuals of other Boards have been freely consulted 
and in some instances sections adopted verbatim. This 
has been done because these Manuals contain statements 
of principles discovered in the experiences of all the 
Boards and their missionaries wherever engaged in modern 
missionary enterprises. 


INTRODUCTION 


The Reason for the Missionary Movement 

The impelling reason for the missionary movement lies 
in the believers’ constantly increasing appreciation of the 
revelation given by our Lord Jesus Christ; of God as a 
loving Heavenly Father; of Himself as Lord and Savior; 
of the Holy Spirit as an abiding Paraclete; of our Lord’s 
thought of mankind as a mutually helpful brotherhood; 
and of His own desire and expectation that those believers 
who have come to know the joy of the Christian life should 
seek to bring others into the experience of forgiveness of 
sins and fellowship with Him. 

The second reason lies in the desire to cooperate in 
the supreme and controlling aim of foreign missions which 
is “to make the Lord Jesus Christ known to all men as 
their divine Savior, and to persuade them to become His 
disciples; to gather these disciples into Christian churches, 
which shall be self-propagating, self-supporting, and self- 
governing; to cooperate, so long as may be necessary, with 
these churches in the evangelization’ of their countrymen 
and in bringing to bear on all human life the spirit and 
principles of Christ.” 


The Purpose of the Manual 

The Board of the Foreign Missionary Society is not an 
ecclesiastical body, but it does have responsibility for the 
conduct of the missionary work in the foreign fields; for 
the fitness of candidates selected for missionary appoint- 
ment and for their relation to that work; for the general 
principles upon which that work is developed; for the 
maintenance of the purity of doctrine promulgated by its 
missionaries in the foreign fields; for the wise and eco- 
nomical use of all funds contributed for the support of 
this work; and for the security of all mission property and 
funds held in trust for the United Brethren Church. 

This Manual is prepared for the use of the Board and 
its missionaries. It is not a contract and the Board re- 


6 


serves the right to modify or change it as in its judg- 
ment it may seem wise. 


It is the general policy of the Board to interfere as 
little as possible in matters that may properly be regarded 
as items of internal administration in the Missions on the 
fields, but it reserves the right at any time to call for modi- 
fications of any action or policy of a Mission. 


This Manual is designed to cover the points with which 
the Board concerns itself in relation to the Mission and 
the missionaries. 


Candidates and missionaries are urged to familiarize 
themselves with the Manual and carefully to conform to its 
regulations in order that confusion and friction may be 
avoided. When in doubt, it is well to consult the Manual 
and concerning points not covered by it, or not made clear 
by it, to write for information to the Secretary of the 
Board. 


The Board recognizes this work of Foreign Missions as 
a great spiritual undertaking. Their only desire is to dis- 
charge with faithfulness and humility the responsibility 
laid upon them by the Church. They are aware that only 
in so far as complete harmony is maintained between them- 
selves and the missionaries and among the missionaries 
themselves, can the Missions of the Church realize per- 
fectly the will of God. All missionaries should be deeply 
conscious that these harmonious and happy relations de- 
pend far less on formal rules than on their common ex- 
perience of Christian love which inspires forbearance and 
patience. As an aid in fostering such harmony this booklet 
is prepared. Those who have devoted their lives utterly to 
the giving of the Gospel of Christ to the world and who 
go forth in His Spirit of self-sacrifice and service, will not 
look upon these regulations in the light of irksome laws, 
but in the light of guides to a harmonious working-out of 
the plan of God through His Church. 


7 


CHAPTER I 
ORGANIZATION 


This chapter of the Missionary Manual has not been 
printed: 


First, because it was a verbatim copy of the ruling and 
law of the Church as recorded in the Discipline of the 
Church of the United Brethren in Christ. 


Second, because the committee desired to eliminate the 
unnecessary expense of reprinting what the Discipline al- 
ready contained. 


Every missionary of the United Brethren Church should 
have a copy of the Discipline of the Church of the United 
Brethren in Christ. He will find in the chapter entitled 
“The Foreign Missionary Society” the rules and regula- 
tions governing the action and administration of the 
foreign mission work. The name, function, membership, 
organization, duties, superintendency and reports are all 
set forth. It is important that every missionary be familiar 
with the information contained in this chapter of our 
Church Discipline. The Missionary Manual does not 
abrogate any part of the Discipline but amplifies and sup- 
plements what is contained therein for the better under- 
standing of all who are connected with our foreign mis- 
sionary work and its administration. 


See the chapter in the Discipline on “The Foreign Mis- 
sionary Society.” 


CHAPTER II 
THE MISSIONARY 


The Missionary Call 


To win outstanding success in any field the workman 
needs to feel that his particular task is God’s will for 
him. The call to evangelize the world is a call to every 
member of the Church of Christ. Manifestly, every mem- 
ber cannot be a foreign missionary, and it is God’s plan 
that certain ones should be set apart for this work. To 
some, the Spirit of God has spoken directly, manifesting 
His will for them to undertake the task; to others, the call 
comes through the appeal of the need of millions of their 
fellow men for whom Christ died; and to others, the call 
is simply a command that is given to the Church and which 
they have no reason not to obey. It is a call to a life of 
self-sacrifice and humble service. | 


It is assumed that persons considering service in the 
foreign field understand that it is a life of self-sacrifice at 
each step of the way. Yet thousands of missionaries are 
giving up their own language, attractive homes in health- 
ful communities, congenial social relations; giving up 
parents and children, and going where they will for years 
be denied the joys of these common blessings. 


On the other hand, the Mission Board and the Mission 
Council will make every reasonable effort up to the full 
limit of their resources to protect the missionary from 
the danger arising from travel or unfriendly climate and 
seek in every possible way to create such working condi- 
tions that he or she may not only bring forth fruit, but 
much fruit. 

Qualifications 

Since in all our mission fields, except Japan, which pre- 

sents its own particular health problems, there is a very 


9 


long, hot season, persons looking forward to service in 
these fields should be able to pass a physical examination 
equal to that of a first class insurance risk. 


The preparation of a missionary for his work during 
the first years of his service on the field, involves the 
Church in an expenditure of thousands of dollars. For 
this reason, every precaution is taken to commission only 
those persons as missionaries who will probably be able to 
endure the climate, and who are adapted by temperament 
and training to the difficult task. 

As the acquisition of a free use of the language of the 
country to which one is sent is absolutely essential to the 
highest usefulness, in all ordinary appointments the person 
considered should not be above thirty years of age and 
should have already proved by previous language study 
that he has at least average natural ability in the acquir- 
ing of a language. 

Adequate education is a necessary qualification for ap- 
pointment. In general, for professional missionaries, a 
college education is required, with added professional or 
technical training. In some departments of the work only 
those having the highest training can serve acceptably. 
Lay missionaries and women missionaries should have a 
college education, or its equivalent, and it is desirable 
that they have special training in the study and teach- 
ing of the English Bible. 

Intellectual attainment without refinement is not ade- 
quate preparation. The cultivated leaders of life and 
thought in most of the fields in which we operate are 
highly educated, often in America or Europe, and. the 
missionary must be exceptionally gracious in his manners 
or he will seem to the people to be a barbarian. No slip- 
shod mental equipment can meet them with any hope of 
helping them for they are alert, keen and eager. 

All through his life a missionary must watch with care 
his attitude toward other members of society, since much 


10 


of his service is among those who are vulgar and those 
who are servile, and unless he live near to God and exer- 
cise watchful self-discipline, his own habits may become 
vitiated. 
Application Forms 

In order that the members of the Executive Committee 
may act in the light of the fullest possible knowledge when 
counselling with persons concerning work abroad, a ques- 
tion form has been prepared that suggests the informa- 
tion that is most desired in regard to age, health, tempera- 
ment, education and religious experience. These forms are 
self-explanatory and may be had from the General Sec- 
retary. 


Persons using these forms are asked to send a list of 
names of professors, pastors or co-workers in Christian 
service who have had unusual opportunity to know the 
candidate well and whose judgment can be sought. 


All the facts set down in the Forms as well as all 
testimonials forwarded will be regarded as confidential 
where such a desire is expressed. 


Before a missionary is definitely appointed, as a measure 
of protection to the applicant as well as the Board, a 
physical examination is required by some physician ap- 
proved by the Board. The Forms previously mentioned 
suggest the questions that require special care. 


Ordained Missionaries 
It is highly desired that persons looking forward to 
ordination should complete their preparation and arrange 
for this ordination, following the usual procedure at the 
annual conference to which they belong or by special ar- 
rangement with the Foreign Missionary Society. 


Medical Missionaries 
Persons desiring appointment as physicians should be 
able to present a diploma from a recognized medical 


11 


school and should have in addition at least one year’s 
hospital experience. 


Graduate nurses and other persons with somewhat less 
than full medical training may be accepted for appoint- 
ment upon presentation of evidence of the necessary gen- 
eral training for Christian service and special training for 
the particular form of medical work in which they de- 
sire to engage. 


Educational Missionaries 
In view of the very unusual emphasis that is being 
placed on better educational work by secular agencies in 
each of our foreign fields, persons looking forward to ed- 
ucational work should have some professional training and 
experience before going abroad. 


Wives of Missionaries 

While the wives of missionaries are not formally re- 
quired to assume responsibility for the performance of 
any definite task in connection with the mission with which 
they are associated and to make reports on the same, yet 
with practical uniformity the wives of our missionaries 
have been regularly consecrated to missionary service and 
have gladly accepted assignments of work up to the full 
limit of their time and strength in connection with their 
necessary household duties. 


Missionary wives and young women going out to be mar- 
ried are expected to follow the ordinary procedure in fill- 
ing out the printed Forms giving the facts in regard to 
age, health, education and Christian experience. 


Interview with Board Officers 
It is the practice of the Board before an appointment is 
definitely made to arrange a personal interview with the 
candidate in order that there may be opportunity for the 
fullest understanding and the foundation laid for an abid- 
ing friendship. 


12 


Designation to a Field 


In making appointments the candidate’s preferences in 
regard to the field of service are taken into consideration. 
The desire of the Board is to assist each person appointed 
to discover the place and sphere of service where he or 
she can make the largest possible contribution to the King- 
dom of God. The missionary is designated to a field and 
the initial appointment may be to a particular task. When 
appointed to a field the missionary is subject to the regu- 
lation of the Mission in that field. 


Outfit 


Wherever possible it is hoped that friends, relatives or 
churches with which outgoing missionaries are connected 
will supply the funds such persons will require in making 
the preparation for their journey, and in furnishing the 
new home in a foreign field. 


Where other funds are not supplied the Board makes a 
grant of $200 to a single missionary and $400 to a man 
and his wife. In the case of Africa, where the Board pro- 
vides the heavy household furniture, the grant is one-half 
the above amounts. This allowance is granted only to 
new missionaries. 


It is strongly advised that these grants be used with 
great carefulness if expenditures are made before sailing, 
and if funds are used for articles to be used abroad the 
advice of experienced missionaries be sought. 


Married missionaries should retain at least one-half of 
their allowance for use when they reach their destination. 


Return of Outfit 


In case a missionary retires from the service of the 
Board for any other consideration than that of health, 
the missionary may retain that proportion of the fund re- 
ceived for outfit that the period of service rendered bears 
to the term for which appointment was made. 


13 


Consecration Service 

In the experience of the Board it has been found very 
helpful to arrange, in harmony with the wishes of the 
candidate, a service at which the newly appointed mission- 
ary will be formally consecrated to his or her life work. 
Where at all possible the service is held in a church whose 
members already have a special interest in the person to 
be consecrated or in a church that wishes to link itself up 
to the foreign field by volunteering to support this new 
missionary as their special representative abroad. As this 
enables the one going away to carry for years the memories 
of a multitude of friendships, affords an opportunity to 
call other young people into definite Christian service and 
to challenge the whole church to dedicate itself to sacri- 
ficial living, this service should be looked forward to as 
one’s crowning opportunity for service in the church in 
America. 

Passports 

While passports are not absolutely necessary for all 
countries, because of exigencies which may arise in any 
foreign port we recommend all missionaries to procure 
them. Application blanks will be sent to persons under 
appointment when the field is designated. 


Making the Journey 

The expense of the journey going to and returning from 
the field by the most direct route is paid by the Board. 
Any additional expenses incurred by a deviation from 
such direct route, and any expenses incurred that are not 
strictly traveling expenses, must be borne by the mission- 
ary personally. 

In case a missionary wishes to travel by a longer 
route he is entitled to draw from the Board the amount 
usually granted for the direct route and to apply it on his 
expenses. Accounts of traveling expenses together with 
any balance should be reported promptly to the Mission- 
ary Treasurer on arrival in the field. 


14 


The Board also pays the freight and customs duties on 
two measured tons of baggage for each new missionary. 
‘A child traveling at less than full fare is entitled to a pro- 
portionate amount of baggage. The railways going west 
carry 350 lbs. of baggage free for persons holding Trans- 
Pacific tickets. That amount being also allowed on the 
ships on the Pacific. No freight allowance is granted new 
Missionaries going to Africa, because of the fact that the 
heavy furniture is provided by the mission. 


Each new missionary is allowed 100 lbs. of baggage in 
addition to what is carried free by railroads. Any amounts 
of baggage or freight in excess of the above must be paid 
by the missionary personally. 


The Mastery of the Spoken Language 


By common agreement it is impossible to over-emphasize 
the importance of such a mastery of the language of the 
people with whom a missionary is associated that he both 
clearly understands and is understood. In view of the 
great intellectual awakening everywhere and the increase 
in each of our fields of vernacular literature every mis- 
sionary, particularly every man, should be ambitious to 
read the language of his adopted country. Missionaries 
are expected to avail themselves of the advantages offered 
by special language schools where such schools exist. In 
other cases where the language must be learned by study 
with private teacher the necessary expense, when ap- 
proved by the Mission, will be paid. It is expected that 
within two years all missionaries, except wives of mis- 
sionaries who because of household duties and the care 
of children may find it impossible, will acquire the vernac- 
ular so as to be able to conduct services in it. 

It is expected that the Mission will arrange examinations 
where such are not provided in the course for those of its 
numbers who are studying the language and report the 
results to the Board. It shall also report on the progress 


15 


of those in language school. Failure to attain results satis- 
factory to the Mission and the Board in the use of the 
spoken language will automatically cancel the commission 
of a missionary. 


Remuneration for Outside Work 


The missionary shall give his full time and strength to 
the work which has been assigned to him. In cases of 
unusual emergency, a missionary, having obtained the 
approval of his Mission, may temporarily give such por- 
tion of his time as may be regarded necessary to work, 
other than that of the Mission to which he belongs. All 
fees and other remuneration received for such service 
shall be turned into the treasury of the Mission. 


Resignation, of Missionaries 


In case conditions arise that justify a missionary in the 
mind of the Board in offering his resignation, the Board 
will bear the expense of his return to the United States if 
made within three months of his resignation. 


The Board, after consulting the Mission may recall a 
missionary from the field or revoke his appointment. 


Traveling Expenses for Children 


The Board trusts that the number of journeys for which 
it will be asked to provide traveling expenses for chil- 
dren to and from the United States will be reduced to the 
minimum. In no case can the Board grant travel expense 
for more than five single trips to any one child, and in 
the judgment of the Board travel expense should not be 
asked for the return of a missionary’s son or daughter to 
a foreign land after the age of sixteen years. 


Salary 


The financial allowance of missionaries varies in the dif- 
ferent fields. The desire of the Board is to make it 
possible for its representatives abroad to maintain the 


16 


vigor necessary to conduct a victorious warfare for a 
long period of years while keeping in mind also the ideal 
of sacrificial service that is inextricably inwrought in the 
foreign mission task. The grants have been made after a 
careful! study of the cost of living in each field and con- 
sulting the experience of other Societies operating under 
the same conditions. 


It is the purpose of the Board to make the salary suf- 
ficient, with wise economy, for comfortable support; “not 
sufficient to compensate for defects in financial manage- 
ment, nor so small that the more prudent may not have 
something to spare.” 


The missionary’s salary begins on the date of sailing, at 
furlough salary rates, field salary beginning on arrival 
on the field and ceasing on leaving the field. 


In addition to the salary grant a house is provided or 
the necessary rent is paid. 


Children’s Allowances 


Children’s allowances vary according to conditions and 
educational advantages on the fields. No flat allowance is 
made covering all the fields because of such diversified 
conditions. The allowances are classed as follows: support 
allowance, varying according to age, educational allow- 
ances, varying according to educational advantages on the 
fields, and college allowance, conditioned on attendance 
at a United Brethren College in the United States. 


The Term of Service 
It is the desire of the Board that missionaries should 
regard their calling as a life work and not to be turned 
aside by any obstacle which they can possibly surmount. 
As four of our missions are located in countries where 
the climate is very taxing to most constitutions, experience 
has justified the wisdom of appointing missionaries for 


17 


terms of varying length at the completion of which they 
may, by the approval of the Mission and Board, return to 
the home land for both physical and spiritual invigoration. 


The term of service for Africa is two years one month 
on the field, and eleven months absence. 


The term of service for Japan is seven years on the field 
and one year and three months absence. 


The term of service for China is five years on the field 
and one year and three months absence. 


The term of service for the Philippines is five years on 
the field and one year and three months absence. 


The term of service for Porto Rico is three years on the 
field and six months absence. 


No missionary shall return to America for any length 
of time or for any cause without the sanction of the Mis- 
sion and the Board. This applies to all missionaries and to 
all occasions, whether the absence be at the expense of 
the Board or of the individual. 


Immediately on arrival in America, the missionary shall 
write the Secretary of the Board giving the date of ar- 
rival and his home address, 


When health demands a furlough at other than the regu- 
lar time, it will be necessary for the missionary to secure 
a certificate signed by two physicians, setting forth the 
need for such furlough. The application for special fur- 
lough on account of health shall be presented to the Mis- 
sion and to the Board. In cases of extreme emergency 
for reasons of health, on the advice of two physicians and 
with the sanction of the Mission, a missionary may start 
for America immediately, but in such cases, notice shall 
be given to the Board by cable. 


Furlough Travel 
The Board pays the expense of the missionary’s return 
journey to his home in the United States, by the most 


18 


direct route. The place where he spends the greater part 
of his furlough being regarded as his home to which the 
travel should be paid, and not necessarily the farthest 
part of the country to which he may travel. 


Where there is any extra expense incurred through de- 
viations from the usual route by travel, or through delay 
over the time necessary to make connections with steam- 
ers, these expenses shall be borne by the missionary 
personally. 


One measured ton of freight without customs duties 
is allowed each adult and one-half ton for each child and 
one hundred lbs. of excess baggage on the railways. In 
case curios form a part of the baggage the customs duty, 
if any, must be borne by the missionary personally. The 
grant for freight cannot be drawn unless the freight is 
actually shipped and the expense incurred. 


Missionaries will understand the great necessity of ar- 
ranging their travel on all occasions in the most economical 
manner consistent with comfort and safety. 


Missionaries returning to America should at the earli- 
est possible moment report to the General Secretary to 
what date salary has been received and the amounts re- 
ceived and expended for travel. 


Furlough Allowance 


The allowance while at home shall be at the rate of 
$62.50 per month for each duly appointed missionary, and 
$115 for each married couple. The home allowance of 
widows and widowers with children shall be that of un- 
married missionaries, plus the regular children’s allowance. 

The furlough allowance shall begin when the missionary 
leaves his station for furlough, and shall cease when he 
arrives at his station on return to the field. 


Furlough allowance shall not be paid for more than 
fifteen months in America in any case, without special 


19 


action of the Board. Under special circumstances there 
may be an extension of the time of furlough. 


This furlough allowance is supplemented by the regular 
children’s allowance of $100 for each child under twelve 
years and $150 for each child over twelve and under 
eighteen per year in case of children in the family; and 
a special rent allowance, but only in case actual rent 
is being paid. 

If a missionary home on furlough after one or more 
terms of service on the field is not returning, he shall be 
continued on furlough salary four months. Should the 
missionary be in ill health and so be unable to return, the 
Board may grant a special allowance as long as it sees 
fit. If a missionary who is not returning to the field as- 
sumes a position for which remuneration is received the 
Board may order the discontinuance of the furlough al- 
lowance any time before the expiration of the allotted 
period.. 


Work at Home 


It is earnestly desired that this furlough period may 
result not only in invigorated health but in the acquiring 
of better working methods and an enriched spiritual life. 
It is generally desirable that the missionary on furlough 
devote a part of his time to professional study or Bible 
courses, or both. Missionaries desiring to pursue such 
study should correspond with the Secretary of the Board 
before leaving the field for furlough in America. 


The Board trusts that returning missionaries will have 
a just appreciation of the unique value of their testimony 
in winning new friends to the missionary movement, and 
of the importance of planning to give a reasonable period 
of time to the important work of presenting to the home 
churches the achievements and needs of the field in which 
they have been laboring. If a missionary desires to make 
appeals for special objects for his particular work on the 


20 


field, permission must be obtained from the Board and all 
gifts or pledges duly reported to same. 


Vacations on the Field 


It is the desire of the Board that missionaries arrange 
for a brief vacation period each year on the field at such 
time and for such length as the mission shall suggest and 
the Board approve. In three of the fields rest homes have 
been provided. 


Medical Expenses 


Where there is a medical missionary at a station it is 
understood that he will undertake the treatment of all mis- 
sionaries at the station without charge. He shall leave his 
station in response to calls from other stations when 
emergency demands it. At stations where there are no 
medical missionaries a medical allowance will be made, 
the same to be included in the annual budget. The allow- 
ance is $25 per year for each missionary on the field, 
but shall not be paid unless actually expended for medical 
service. Similar medical allowances are made for mis- 
sionaries on furlough in America. Cases of unusual neces- 
sity may be presented to the Board for special consid- 
eration. 


On arriving in America, every missionary shall have a 
medical examination at such place as indicated by the 
Board, to determine whether or not the state of his health 
is such as to require special treatment while at home. 
If such treatment is necessary, a second certificate will 
be required before the time of the missionary’s return to 
the field, stating that he has sufficiently recovered to 
render his return to the field advisable. 


Safeguarding the Native Church 


Each missionary regardless of what his or her particular 
assignment of work may be, should keep constantly in 
mind, that the one goal towards which the Board is direct- 


ai 


ing its energy is the development of vigorous, self-sustain- 
ing, self-propagating churches in each field where Missions 
are sustained. 


Personal Correspondence 


While a personal report from each missionary shall be 
prepared and submitted at the annual Mission Council 
meeting, it is not to be understood that the missionary’s 
correspondence with the General Secretary is to be limited 
to that. 


It is the wish of the Board that each missionary will feel 
the utmost freedom at any time in presenting the suc- 
cesses, failures and opportunities connected with his or 
her particular duties, to the General Secretary of the Board 
for mutual heipfulness in the prosecution of the missionary 
task. 


However, it should be distinctly understood that no 
missionary should write letters to persons other than mem- 
bers of the Board, criticizing mission plans, fellow mis- 
sionaries, or reflecting on the character of the work done 
in any way. Such letters are never fully understood by 
those unfamiliar with-the details of the missionary prob- 
lem, and may cause untold harm. All such communica- 
tions should be sent to the Board, where remedial action 
can be ordered. 


NO 
bo 


CHAPTER III 
THE MISSION COUNCIL 


The Necessity for Unfailing Good Will 


In the prosecution of this task of building up new Chris- 
tian churches various agencies participate. The whole 
church in America has its obligation; the members of the 
Mission Board and the Executive Committee have their 
particular functions; the missionaries commissioned and 
sent out and associated in a Mission Council have their 
special part to perform; the new believers, organized into 
churches, their ministers and officials have their distinct 
obligations and contributions to make. 


It will be seen that this organization thus composed is 
really a great international Christian democracy, and more 
than mere national democracy requires for the successful 
attainment of its purpose, a thorough mutual understanding 
on the part of each member of the cooperating group, 
mutual esteem and trust, and the rarest unselfishness, 
humility, patience and good cheer. 


Organization 
The Mission Council shall be composed of all regularly 
appointed missionaries employed by the Board. Mission- 
aries shall not be eligible to voting privileges in the 
Council until after one year’s residence on the mission 


field. 

The Mission Council shall elect a secretary who shall 
keep a proper record of its meetings in such forms as to 
be permanently available. 

The secretary shall at his earliest convenience after the 
adjournment of the Council forward a correct copy of the 
minutes to the Board, together with copies of documents 


aD 


that may be necessary to make clear any action of the 
Mission Council. A letter should accompany the minutes 
with explanation of each point that might be difficult for 
the Board to understand clearly without having heard the 
discussion preceding the action. 


A Mission Council may elect an Executive Committee of 
not less than three nor more than five members, which 
shall have the usual ad interim powers exercised by such 
a committee. The Mission Superintendent shall be a mem- 
ber of this committee. 


On questions involving request for appropriations on the 
field, for the transfer of funds from one department to an- 
other and the retirement of missionaries, a two-thirds vote 
shall be required. 


Missions and missionaries in transmitting matters to the 
Board for action are requested to transmit them in strict- 
ly business communications, distinct from letters of gen- 
eral missionary interest. 


The official correspondence, received either by the su- 
perintendent or secretary of a Mission Council, shall be 
preserved in such form that it may be seen, if desired, by 
any member of the Mission Council. 


Supervision 

The Foreign Mission Board shall appoint a mission 
superintendent over each mission conference for one term, 
subject to reappointment, or his tenure of office may be 
terminated at any time at the discretion of the Board. 
He shall give general supervision to all the mission work 
conducted by the Board in the area included in the mis- 
sion’s activities. He shall conduct all the official cor- 
respondence with the Board except such as may be dele- 
gated to the secretary of the Mission Council, or to any 
special committees appointed by the same. He shall pre- 
side at all Council Meetings and foreign mission confer- 
ence sessions, except in case a bishop is present at the for- 


24 


eign mission conference; then it shall be the function of 
the bishop to preside. He shall not have power to in- 
augurate new policies or make unusual changes, except 
on the authorization of the Board. He shall report the 
conditions and needs of the field to the home office from 
time to time, and prepare an annual report of the mission’s 
activities for the annual meeting of the Board. 


Functions 

It is highly important that each missionary keep dis- 
tinctly in mind the functions of the Mission Council, and 
not allow them to become confused with the rights and 
duties of the Foreign Mission or Annual Conference. The 
Mission Council is the representative of the Foreign Mis- 
sionary Society and the United Brethren Church on the 
foreign field. It is to embody and carry out the will and 
purpose of the Church at home as it relates to the evan- 
gelization of the particular country in which it (the 
Council) exists and operates. 

It shall cooperate with the mission eipenntendent in 
the general supervision of the work, by committee or 
otherwise, especially with reference to the division of the 
missionaries’ work, the budget, and the administration of 
mission funds. It shall control all mission institutions 
within its bounds. All questions of policy and method 
are subject to its judgment. All requests requiring the 
action of the Board should be accompanied by the action 
of the Council upon them. 

No new stations shall be opened or important changes 
inaugurated, or extensive work undertaken, except on 
authorization from the Board at the recommendation of 
the Mission Council. 

At any time when it may appear to the Mission in the 
field that a missionary’s usefulness has been seriously im- 
paired, it is the duty of the Mission after careful in- 
vestigation to report the matter to the Board with recom- 
mendations. ' 


VAs) 


Assignment of Work by the Mission Council 
All missionaries appointed by the Board are usually sent 
out in response to a request coming from a Mission, to 
take up a special task. 


It is understood, however, that this initial appointment 
is only temporary, and that such appointees will at the 
first meeting of the Mission Council, and thereafter, re- 
ceive their assignment of work for the following year the 
same as other missionaries. The Mission Council, which 
is responsible for the permanent welfare of the work 
under its control, will not be unreasonable in assigning 
the members of the staff to duties for which they regard 
themselves unfitted. 


In case a missionary feels that his interests have not 
been properly considered by the Mission, he is at liberty 
to state his convictions before the Mission Council, or 
Executive Committee, in order to give full opportunity 
for frank consideration by all parties concerned. Should 
this action prove fruitless, the missionary having filed a 
duplicate copy of his appeal with the Mission Superin- 
tendent, may appeal to the Board, whose good offices will 
be used to secure a satisfactory adjustment. 


Reports 


Each missionary shall prepare a brief written report of 
his or her labors during the year to be submitted to the 
Mission Council. 

All these reports should be heard, approved or, if neces- 
sary, amended by the Mission, and then forwarded to the 
General Secretary of the Board by the Secretary of the 
the Mission Council. 


Estimates 


At the annual meeting the Mission Council shall pre- 
pare a careful estimate of its expenses for the following 
year. 


26 


The estimates should indicate, first, what is needed for 
the work of the ensuing year, the amount not to exceed 
the grant of the year preceding that for which the estimate 
is made; and, secondly, if more is required, how the Mis- 
sion would spend the desired increase. 

Each station in preparing its estimates shall consult with 
the proper agents of the native Church so as to secure 
its proper share in, and responsibility for, the support of 
all evangelistic and educational work. The amount given 
by the native Church and the amount of help asked from 
the Board shall be clearly stated. 

In case any work is partially supported by receipts upon 
the field, the estimated receipts shall be carefully stated, 
and also the estimated expenses, and only that amount 
shall be asked which is needed to meet the estimated 
deficit. 

It is understood that where the new budget exceeds 
the total amount expended during the preceding year, in- 
creased payments under the new budget will not be made 
until it has been definitely sanctioned by the Board. 

It shall also make recommendations as to what new or 
advanced work shall be undertaken. These recommenda- 
tions to include such matters as new or additional mis- 
sionaries for the staff, the purchase of additional ground 
or erection of new buildings, the opening of new centers 
or entering of larger fields. It is understood that the 
Council, following its best judgment, shall make these rec- 
ommendations in the order of their urgency. 

Each Mission is expected to keep its expenditures with- 
in the appropriation granted by the Board. Any over- 
draft will be charged against the appropriation for the 
following year. Any unexpended balance of the appro- 
priation remaining in the hands of the Treasurer at the 
end of the year shall be reported to the Home Board. 

These provisions consider the financial estimates, as 
estimates only, which may in whole or in part be granted 
by the Board. 

ay 


The Mission is made responsible for the wise and care- 
ful expenditure of all funds appropriated. 


_ Missionaries on the field shall report all special gifts 

received for the work to the mission treasurer, and shall 
have the accounts for the same audited as with all other 
funds. 


Special Appeals 


Attention is called to the very great importance of each 
mission giving such careful consideration to each de- 
partment of the work under its direction that there will 
be no necessity for any individual missionary to make 
special appeals for objects not included in the budget, to 
individuals, Sunday schools or churches in America. Such 
appeals generally represent the opinion of only one or the 
opinion of a very small group of missionaries instead of 
the judgment of the entire’ mission. These special ap- 
peals tend.to confuse the judgment of the persons to whom 
they are addressed and hinder the larger appeal that it is 
necessary for the Board to make for the entire work. 


The aid of each missionary through prayer, counsel, 
personal correspondence and articles to the various church 
publications is most sincerely desired, in order that the 
whole church may see the whole task abroad. 


In case needs of unusual importance arise during the 
year they should be brought promptly to the attention of 
the Mission Council or its appropriate Committee, by 
which they will be forwarded through the proper chan- 
nels to the Board for special consideration. 


Transfer of Funds on the Field 


Appropriations by the Board are made on the basis of - 
the annual estimates sent in by the Mission Council. Gen- 
erally the appropriations must be made less than the 
amount placed in the estimate. In any adjustment of the 
budget for the year, the Mission may not exceed the 


28 


amount of the appropriation allowed. Certain items of 
the budget, such as missionaries’ allowances, field and fur- 
lough salaries, travel and other fixed expenses may not 
be reduced by the Mission and will not be reduced by the 
Board, except in case of emergency. 


If the Mission deems it necessary it may transfer funds 
from one department to another, or it may in the interest 
of the whole work reduce one department’s funds to 
augment another, 


In effecting transfers and reductions the Mission is ex- 
pected to take into consideration the special support of 
objects by individuals and not to disturb such support 
without the consent of the contributors, or at least until 
the matter has been adjusted by the Board. 


Mission Treasurer 

The Mission is responsible’for receiving and disbursing 
all moneys sent to the field. The Mission Treasurer by 
virtue of his office becomes responsible to the Mission and 
the Board for the receiving and disbursement of funds 
according to the regulations of the Mission and of the 
Board. The Treasurer of the Mission shall have custody 
of all legal papers and shall keep the official accounts 
in permanent records, which are the property of the Mis- 
sion. He shall keep a file of official correspondence con- 
nected with his office. 


The treasurer shall not advance to any missionary or 
station funds in excess of the amount due for the cur- 
rent quarter, unless by special order of the Mission. 


The accounts of the Mission Treasurer shall be audited 
by a committee of the Mission. In making this audit 
account shall be taken not only of the footings and vouch- 
ers presented, but the Committee shall also make a report 
as to whether funds have been expended in accordance 
with estimates or appropriations that have been approved. 
The audit of the Committee shall include all funds in the 


29 


custody of the treasurer, and an examination of the cash 
in bank. 

The Committee shall certify that the audit has been made 
according to the regulations of the Mission and the Board, 
and a signed copy of its report shall be sent to the Board. 

The Books of the Mission Treasurer must be open for 
the inspection of any member of the Mission at any reason- 
able time. 


The Treasurer shall report at the close of each quarter 
to the Board all receipts and disbursements. 


Property 
No property is to be purchased or sold, nor any build- 
ing erected for the Board without its sanction. None of 
its property is, to be mortgaged or assigned for any debt. 
All property given or purchased for its use shall be trans- 
ferred at once to it or held in trust for it. 


Gifts on the field or from sources outside of the Board’s 
treasury for the erection of buildings on property of the 
Board, or for enlarging or improving buildings already in 
use, or for acquiring new property, must be reported to 
the Board, and before these gifts are expended full plans 
of the improvements contemplated must be submitted to 
the Board for its approval. 


All repairs on buildings shall be included in the gen- 
eral estimates and no enlargement or alteration involving 
expense shall be made without the concurrence of the Mis- 
sion or its appropriate Committee, and if amounting to 
more than $250.00 the sanction of the Board. 


Title deeds of all property are to be duly recorded in 
the way required by the government within whose ter- 
ritory the Mission is located. 

Each year a statement giving full details of all new 
property acquired, or new buildings erected, should be 
sent to the Board so that the Board’s files may be kept 
up to date. 


30 


It is important that photographs and plans of build- 
ings and diagrams accompany these property statements. 
Missionaries who expend funds belonging to the Board, or 
who in any way involve the Board in property or financial 
obligations without the consent of the Board, will be held 
personally responsible for the amount. 


Control of Property 


At the annual meeting of the Mission Council all ques- 
tions that may arise during the year, in relation to lands 
and buildings, may either be committed to the Executive 
Committee or to a special Property Committee elected for 
that purpose. 

In addition to the sanction of the Board the approval 
of the Committee charged with this responsibility shall 
be necessary before lands are bought or sold or buildings 
are erected or improved. 

This committee shall also have general supervision in 
the erection or repairing of buildings. 


31 








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